Anthony Wint continues to put the UFC heavyweight division on notice this past Saturday.
At UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, Wint took just 23 seconds to score in his sophomore Octagon appearance to defeat Lucas Armand with a brutal knockout — the fifth sub-60 second of his undefeated nine-fight career. He’s a linebacker for the NFL’s New York Jets who was quickly targeted as one who could be the next, crying Sean Sharaf.
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Speaking on Monday’s edition of “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Wint said he has not yet spoken to his agent, but he reportedly wants to know. Sharaf recently scored his first quick knockout, toppling Olympic champion Gable Steveson, as the historic underdog with a 12-second knockout at UFC 331 last month.
“On paper, it makes sense,” Crowned Wint said. ” … Stylistically it’s a step up. Sean’s better than the guys I’ve fought before. Obviously, he’s got experience. But it’s all about Sean.
“I saw Joe Rogan’s podcast [with Sharaf]quite funny. I saw the part where he was talking about his exit – and that would be the most polite thing to do for him. I don’t mind Sean, but I honestly don’t think he’s a world champion. There is nothing against him. A lot of me is going to be the strongest in the world. I think I’m a little bit more than Sean, but Gable Steveson beating him is almost unfathomable.”
Wint, 31, mentioned that he had been training closely with Sharaf for a while before Wint earned his UFC contract in August at the Contender Series.
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Before Sharaf’s camp at Steveson, Wint said he had effectively played the role of Sharaf’s opponent, helping him prepare for the tough challenge ahead.
“And I told him, ‘If I were Gable, I’d go out there and try to take your head off, try to knock you out,'” Wint said.
“Because like Gable, like me against Luke, I knew I could wrestle Luke. Luke’s wrestling is a lot worse than striking, and his striking wasn’t good. But that doesn’t add a notch to my belt. I went out there and submitted Terrance Chatman [in my UFC debut]who had set up another game for the little one. He is a different kind of fighter. I would like to have a knockout. I wanted to get this $100,000. … Therefore, he will knock at all times. It makes better marketing when you put someone in a prone position.
“But it’s up to Sean. No beef. Sean’s a great guy,” Wint continued. “I hope he’s not jealous. At the end of the day we’re just fighters and that’s how much I call him and. [trying to] His clout is a steal, I think it’s a very good match. It is a step in risk, but a great step in reward. It’s up to him.”
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Ultimately, Wint said that he is not trying to stir the pot of negativity, and also added that he would be happy to train with Sharaf again if they do not end the fight.
Anthony Wint is now 2-0 in the UFC after signing with the promotion in August.
(Cooper Neill via Getty Images)
In the mean time, Wine is the aprication of another glory of a quick victory. Or at least he’s trying to. A sub-minute finish is always welcome for the limited damage he sustains, but at the same time, Wint wanted to show more work than he put in at UFC 332.
“I tell my coaches this – I use my words carefully – I say, ‘I feel like a crackhead.’ [after these fights],'” Wint said. “No one is offended by anyone who is dealing with drug addictions. I had five wins under 40 seconds, and I train so hard, man. We have a lot of conditioning. I have a great team behind me, and as it is, I have more to put out there.
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“I kind of already knew that I was going into this fight. Obviously I want to give my opponent as much as I can, make them as much as I can. But I knew going into that fight that Lucas didn’t have anything for me. It was just me deciding, ‘Hey, once I start hitting, I’m not going to stop, and we saw the outcome.’
Quick knockouts have been the name of Wint’s game more often than not in his nine-fight career. He went to the decision only once before – in the third pro bout, when Omar El-Sahlah won by split decision in March 2025 for Furia FC.
Even now, Wint said he clearly understands where his weaknesses lie as he continues to progress through the UFC’s heavyweight ranks.
“It’s hard for guys without the ability and experience to beat me, because I study too well,” Wint said. “I kind of already know that I’m going to beat myself. I think game plan is for everyone, and as long as we’re looking at game plan, I’m going to work on those attributes more than anything.
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“When you think you can use this or the advantage of that” maybe my inexperience, my explosiveness, my lack of cardio – that’s why we spend most of our time working in the lab. So I’m excited to be on my way up the ranks and try a little more, which is weird to say.”
Winter has looked borderline so far in the UFC, but he also knows that gold is fool’s errand. Unless you happen to be someone like former two-division champion Jon Jones, who led Wint by example, no one can be perfect in that cage all the time.
Nay, he is the first to oppress the infirmities of others, says Wint.
“It’s obvious to me [where I’m weakest right now]. I don’t like to tell anyone with an honest coach, anyone who knows martial arts or martial arts in general, knows that a man can’t have everything,” Vinte said.
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“I know I’m limited in some areas, but because I know I’m limited in those areas, I work on them. When my opponent tries to use those areas, he closes the way and he’s going to go the other way.”